Plastic toys



June 7, 1960 J. H. LEMELSON PLASTIC TOYS Filed Jan. 31, 1955 INVENTOR.Jerome H.Leme|son Un ed States Pat nt 1 2,939,101 PLASTIC. ToYs JeromeH. Lemelson, Staten Island, N.Y. (8B Garfield Park Homes, Metuchen, NJ.)

Filed Jan. 31, 1955, Ser. No. 485,041

6 Claims. (Cl. 273-105) This invention relates to inflatable toys and inparticular to a new and improved target and backdrop which may be usedfor toss games and the like.

It is a primary object of this invention to provide a new and improvedtoy and game device in the form of a target for tossing balls or otherobjects and which may be made large and light in weight at low cost. a 7

Another object is to provide a new and improved game device comprising atarget form and an inflatable base for supporting said target form erecton a surface.

Yet another object is to provide a new and improved target and supporttherefor which may also be used as a backdrop and which is made of thinflexible inflatable material, whereby said support may be maderelatively large yet may be packed and stored in a small volume.

Still another object is to provide improved constructions in gameapparatus which may easily be produced at low cost.

Another object is to provide a new and improved supporting means for atoss game ring which may be used for basket-ball games and the like.

Other objects and features of my invention are described in the annexeddescription and drawings which illustrate a preferred embodimentthereof.

Fig. 1 is an isometric view of a target device employing an inflated bagas a support;

Fig. 2 is an elevation of a target device having a target portionsecured to an inflatable bag in a manner diiferent than that illustratedin Fig. 1;

Fig. 3 is a partial view of target device having a further modificationin the target portion thereof.

In Fig. 1 is shown a target device 10 comprising the assembly of aninflatable bag and a target form 13 illustrated as a ring loop having anaxis substantially parallel to the surface on which it is mounted. Theinflated bag is made of two die-cut sheets 11 and 12 of flexible plasticwhich may be sealed in a sealing line near the border of each whichextends in a closed loop and completely encloses the internal volumesuch that it may be inflated to essentially the shape shown.

The ring loop 13 has a pair of rod-like legs 14 projecting therefrom asshown which are secured to a flat board or plate 16 by means of pocketformations 15 in said plate. The board 16 is held against the surface ofthe wall 12 of the inflatable bag by means of a pocket formed with saidwall and a strap. The lower end of 16 fits into said pocket which isformed by providing a U-shaped seal S between a rectangular sheet ofplastic 18 and the wall 12. The strap 17 extends across the upper end of16 and is secured by line sealing the ends of said strap to the wall 12.The dimensions of 17 and 18 as well as the positioning of the welds foreach are such that the board 16 is tensionally held thereby as shownwhen the bag is inflated.

Fig. 2 is a side view of an inflated target device 20 comprising theassembly of two flexible plastic sheets 21 and 22 and having a target inthe form of a basket ring 23 and a circumscn'bing netting 26 securedthereto. A

ire

pair of straight sections of wire 24 extend from the 23 and are securedto the inflated bag by passing directly into respective pockets formedwhen a square of flexible plastic sheet is line sealed in U-shapedsealing lines S to the wall 22 of the inflated bag. The numeral 2]refers" to ballast in the form of sand or the like partially filling.the enclosure for maintaining said device erect on a sur face andreturning it to the position shown if tipped over by the impact of aball or other form thrown at the target.

In Fig. 3 is shown a modification to the device illustrated in Figs. 1and 2 wherein the ring loop target 13 which may be made of rigid orsemi-rigid metal is replaced by a U-shaped target made of rigid vinylsheeting. The target comprises a sheet of plastic such as a rigid vinylsheet of plastic formed with a semi-cylindrical portion 33 having flangeportions 34 and 35 at each side thereof which are secured to the surfaceof the inflated backdrop and support 30. Sheets 31 and 32 sealedtogether in a circumscribing or closed loop sealing line comprise thewalls of the inflated bag and the flanges 34 and 35 are sealed theretoby means of sealing lines S. A ball B tossed at the target may beglanced or bounced ofl the inflated wall 32 so that it falls into thetarget loop formed by a portion 33 and the wall of 32.

It is noted that variations in the construction and mounting of thetarget portion or loop are possible and the target may take variousforms without departing from the spirit of the invention.

I claim:

1. In game apparatus, a target including: aflexible plastic bag capableof inflation to a defined shape whereby I the walls of said bag aredrawn into a semi-rigid state of tension and said bag is selfsupporting, means for supporting a base portion of said bag, wheninflated, on a surface whereby part of said bag projects away from saidsurface in an erect condition, a target form comprising a ring loopsupported oir' saidprojecting part of the inflated bag in an attitudewhereby the central axis of said ring is essentially vertical when saidbag is in said erect attitude on said surface.

2. A game device in accordance with claim 1, said ring loop comprisingthe combination of a ring member, a support for said ring member, meanssecuring said ring member to said support, and means securing saidsupport to said flexible plastic bag.

3. A game device in accordance with claim 2, said support for said ringmember comprising a board member, and the said means for securing saidboard member to said flexible plastic bag comprisesa pocket formed withsaid flexible plastic bag and a piece of sheet material line sealed tosaid flexible member, part of said board member being held in saidpocket by said sheet material whereby said ring member projectsoutwardly therefrom.

4. A game device in accordance with claim 2, said support for said ringmember comprising plural arm portions formed with and projecting fromsaid basket loop, said last mentioned securing means comprising a pieceof sheet material which is sealed to said plastic bag and holds said armportions in engagement therewith.

5. A game device in accordance with claim 2, the means for securing saidarm portions to said flexible plastic bag comprising plural pocketsformed with the wall of said flexible plastic bag by means of sheetmaterial (line sealed) to the exterior of the sheet material comprisingsaid flexible plastic bag, each of said pockets being shaped forreceiving a respective of said plural arm portions therein whereby tosupport said ring loop off said flexible plastic bag.

6. In game apparatus, a target including a flexible plastic bag havingflexible sheet walls capable of being in- Pa tented June 7,. 1960;

semiq'igid'Maw-ofi tensiom tom degrev-whereby' said" bag is convertedfrom a limp condition to a self-supporting member, means for supportinga base poxtion of said bag,

by said target erm is supported when said bag isinfleted;

952,862 Armstrong Mar. 22, 1910 Evans :.5-' Aug. 14, 1,995,495 BarmckMar. 26, 1935 2,247,852 Saunde'rs-' July 1, 1941 2,482,234.-

